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ICYMI: DNC Chair Ken Martin Lays Groundwork to Winning Back Red States With Crucial State Party Investments

In Arkansas, Utah, and Florida, DNC Chair Ken Martin is outlining and implementing his vision to build a strong Democratic Party operation that can mobilize voters and begin the necessary work to flip these states blue. As part of Chair Martin’s mission to “organize everywhere, win anywhere,” the DNC announced a historic investment in Democratic state parties, totaling $1 million a month, to turbocharge grassroots organizing, build infrastructure, and strengthen on-the-ground operations. With this investment, the DNC is laying the groundwork to ensure state Democrats, especially in red states and swing states, have the support they need to meet the moment and build critical infrastructure that will enable us to win elections nationwide for years to come.

Take a look at some of the coverage below:

In Arkansas:

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette ([link removed]) : National Democrats’ chairman urges state parties to lead way in connecting with voters
[Alex Thomas, 6/1/25]

“When Ken Martin ascended to the top position in the Democratic Party earlier this year, he brought with him this motif: organize everywhere to win anywhere.

“‘There's no such thing as a perpetual red state. There's no such thing as a perpetual blue state,’ he told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. ‘What our role is to do is to build the infrastructure to win the moment right now, but also to win the future.’ …

“Martin has emphasized the importance of state parties in his new national party position. The Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Committees announced in April a revised State Partnership Program focused on providing state parties with a minimum of $17,500 each month. State Democratic parties in Republican-led states, such as Arkansas, will get an extra $5,000 per month. …

“‘We've seen in areas of the country that are historically blue, because of the lack of investment over the years, we're losing vote share,’ Martin said. ‘We've seen in areas that are red that when you make investments, you can actually start to move the needle.’

“‘Arkansas is an emerging target for us,’ he added. ‘It's a future target for us, and we need to start making the investments right now.’

“Jannie Cotton, the Democratic Party of Arkansas' vice chair, said Martin's attention toward helping state parties is crucial for states like Arkansas that have lacked national engagement in statewide organization efforts, limiting state parties' potential.

“‘I think when someone understands the fight, they know how to equip,’ she said. ‘He's able to equip us with the things we've been needing for a long time.’ …

“[Democratic Party of Arkansas Chair Grant] Tennille found guidance from Martin when the Arkansan took over the state party in October 2021. A new chair at the time, Tennille considered pursuing bankruptcy with the party holding thousands of dollars in debt and maxed-out credit cards, but Martin encouraged Tennille against this action.

“With Martin providing Tennille with mentorship, the Democratic Party of Arkansas reentered solid financial standing.

“Tennille, acknowledging Martin's background in Minnesota, said Martin's focus as national chair on helping state parties could translate to electoral improvements for Democrats in areas written off as unwinnable for the party.

“‘It's tough to raise money in Arkansas right now,’ he said. ‘Ken understands that, and he's really focused on getting us all the tools we need -- money, tech, any of it -- to really be able to run races we can be proud of and to support candidates that need to be supported.’”

Arkansas Advocate ([link removed]) : State, national Democrats meet in Little Rock to sketch out party's future [Sonny Albarado, 5/30/25]

“Ahead of a meeting of the Democratic National Committee’s Executive Committee in Little Rock on Friday, DNC chair Ken Martin said the national party is committing the largest financial assistance to state Democratic parties ever.

“‘The DNC will push out over a million dollars every month to the state parties,’ Martin said in an interview. That includes $22,500 a month to the Arkansas Democratic Party to help it mobilize its efforts to improve the party’s position in the Natural State, he said.

“‘Arkansas is one of the only states where we saw legislative gains (in 2024),’ he said. Democrats gained a single seat in the 100-member Arkansas House in the state’s only majority-Latino district last year.

“‘There’s real opportunity for us, but that means we have to take advantage of it. Arkansas is really an important part of the calculus of how we build our future,’ Martin said. …

“He said he’s focused on rebuilding the party infrastructure, especially in Republican-controlled states like Arkansas. He noted that political power in the U.S. is shifting to the South, where six of the 10 fastest-growing states are.

“‘If we don’t lay down a foundation here, we won’t be prepared to meet that moment when it comes upon us. I don’t want to be caught flatfooted when the map shifts. If we do get caught flatfooted, we could be in a permanent minority for a long time.’”

Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette ([link removed]) : Democrats converge in Little Rock as state, national parties chart course for future elections [Alex Thomas, 5/29/25]

“The Association of State Democratic Committees started its spring meeting on Wednesday, nearly four months after Democrats elected Ken Martin as the new national chair. Martin served as chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party before taking the top Democratic National Committee role. …

“‘I will always be honest with you, and I will always deliver on the promises that I make to actually build this party from the grassroots up,’ Martin said Thursday in an address to the association. ‘The most critical thing I can do is to raise resources and get those resources out to you so you guys can do the work of building this party in each of your states.’ …

“Martin and Kleeb have encouraged an ‘organize everywhere’ approach in Democrats' handling of future election cycles. Under Martin's leadership, the Democratic National Committee is seeking to provide state Democratic parties with increased investments to win races. Democrats' updated state partnership program will result in each state party receiving $17,500 per month from the national party, and state parties in Republican-controlled states like Arkansas will get an additional $5,000 each month.

“Both Martin and Kleeb have argued the investment should result in state parties hiring additional staff and improving party infrastructure.”

In Utah:

Deseret News ([link removed]) : Democratic Party Chair Ken Martin looks to turn red states like Utah blue. [Lauren Irwin, 5/27/25]

“Sitting at a Salt Lake City restaurant on Tuesday, Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin said he came to the state because he believes it will one day be blue — despite his party’s struggle to win any statewide elections in Utah in recent years. …

“A Minnesota native, Martin put it in hockey terms with a famous line from NHL Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky: ‘You have to skate to where the puck will be, not where the puck is.’

“‘That’s what we’re trying to do with this new DNC, is to both win the moment right now but also win the future,’ Martin said. …

“Under the DNC’s new State Partnership Program, the Utah Democratic Party, along with state parties in other red states, will receive $22,500 a month from the DNC.

“‘We know that with the investment of time, energy and money, a red state can become a purple state and then eventually a blue state,’ he said, later adding, ‘It’s not for charity’s sake, just to give money to the state party, it’s actually to help build the infrastructure we need to actually win elections and meet the moment.’ …

“While Utah’s delegation in Washington is currently entirely Republican, Martin believes that can change, with effort.

“‘It doesn’t happen organically. You have to make some investments, you have to actually see a little bit of the future and be willing to take some risks,’ Martin said.”

Axios Salt Lake City ([link removed]) : DNC launches longshot strategy to flip deep-red Utah [Kim Bojórquez, 5/28/25]

“The Democratic National Committee is pouring more than $1 million into Utah to lay the groundwork to some day turn the state blue. …

“Utah is among other GOP-controlled states where the DNC will invest $22,500 monthly in the state Democratic Party over four years through its new State Partnership Program.

“Martin said the funding will boost infrastructure for races from school board to the federal level. …

“‘We have to actually build a party that's not just in seven battleground states,’ Martin told Axios during an interview in downtown Salt Lake City. ‘We have to build everywhere. There's no such thing as a perpetual red state.’

“‘Eventually, the state will turn blue. It's not going to happen overnight,’ he said, noting Colorado's decadeslong transition from a former Republican-leaning state to a blue state. …

“Martin also sees an opening to connect with Latino Utahns, who comprise about 15% of the state population.

“‘When you think about the future voters of this state, the Latino community is really critical,’ he said. ‘Whoever is first to organize that community, especially younger Latino voters, is likely going to win the future.’ …

“What's next: If the state gains congressional power and redraws districts, Martin sees Utah's shift to purple coming into view in as soon as five to 10 years.”

In Florida:

South Florida Sun Sentinel ([link removed]) : Broward Democrats urged to summon all their energy to combat Trump and look for 2026 wins. ‘This is not for the weak.’ [Anthony Man, 6/2/25]

“During the main speech of the night on Saturday, Democratic National Chair Ken Martin brought up the enormous advantage — 1.2 million — Republicans have over Democrats in registered voters in Florida. …

“He and state Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried urged county activists to begin engaging immediately with friends, coworkers, neighbors and fellow parishioners about what’s going on politically and not wait until 2026 to begin registering them to vote and getting signups to vote by mail — areas where Florida Democrats have fallen short as Republicans have built a massive, and effective, organization throughout the state.

“‘We cannot give up on any part of this country, including here in Florida,’ Martin said. ‘There’s an opportunity right now because what we’re seeing around the country is a huge backlash to what this administration is doing, the pain and the anguish that were inflicted upon the American people. There is a buyer’s remorse amongst independent voters and even some Republican voters who voted for Trump.’ …

“Martin also said Democrats shouldn’t pull their punches when describing Trump administration policies. …

“‘We have to be aggressive. You cannot worry about offending someone.’

“‘One of the reasons we’ve lost trust with so many people,’ he said, is that ‘sometimes Democrats get elected to office and they sit on their power. What good is power if you don’t use it to improve people’s lives?’

“‘What pisses me off is when we have Democrats on the sidelines, not willing to stick their neck out, not willing to stand up right now. Not willing to roll up their sleeves and get in this fight and do what we need to, to not only resist but to organize, to mobilize, to give people a sense that we’re gonna fight for them and their families,’ Martin said. ‘This is the fight of our lives. This is not the time to sit on the sidelines.’ …

“Crockett, Fried and Martin all said the road back to power for Democrats starts by focusing on lower-profile, so-called down-ballot offices for things like school board and city commission seats.”

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